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Fredrik Noren stormed into Santa Clara ready to improve on his back-to-back career best
performances in the two races prior to the break. He began the day struggling on the short
and tight track in Levi’s Stadium and it translated to a shaky 22nd overall qualifying time.
Noren knew he would need a good start to qualify straight through to the main out of the heat race and he would not quite
get it. He would come around the first lap in 9th place which isn’t too good but not too bad and he looked to maintain that final transfer. He would get some company from Scott Champion early and initially lose that 9th place spot to him but would bounce back and get back by a few laps later. Noren would make a few more moves at the end of the race but during the shuffle deep in the field Champion would work back by sending Noren to eighth. It was a solid race for Noren after his qualify- ing effort and looked ready to contend in the main.
The main event did not begin the way Noren needed it to. The swede got off to a dreadful start coming around lap one in 20th place. He dug himself a hole early and would not recover. He initially started making moves working into 18th and battling with Champion and Martinez before running into problems late in the race. Noren would end up finishing in a disappointing 19th place. Not the result he wanted after a 12th place before the break so he will be looking to go all out once the West series returns for the season finale in Las Vegas.
words/SETHHARNISHFEGER
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